There is a good illustration of Agrostis sinorupestris in Keng (Fl. Ill. Pl. Prim. Sin. Gram. 545. 1959, as "Agrostis rupestris"). The species is very similar to delicate forms of A. nervosa, but differs by the presence of awns.

The name "Agrostis sinorupestris L. Liou" (Vasc. Pl. Hengduan Mts. 2: 2252. 1994) belongs here, but was not validly published because no Latin description was provided. The name Agrostis rupestris Allioni has been misapplied to this species in the Chinese literature. That species is confined to mountains in Europe and differs by its lower awn insertion on the lemma back (near the base to the lower 1/3) and longer anthers 1–2 mm.